Niugini Dive Adventures - Papua New Guinea




	Niugini Dive Adventures Papua New Guinea

B17 Bomber (Cape Vogel)

Location

The village of Boga Boga stands on the northern coast of the main island of Papua New Guinea, close to an extension of the land that culminates in Cape Vogel. In front of the beach opposite the small island of Ipoteto a reef not far below the surface extends 200 metres into the sea, descending with a vertical wall to 40-50 metres. Here, resting on the seabed, is the almost intact wreck of an American B-17F bomber from the Second World War. The aeroplane was discovered accidentally in December 1986 by Rod Pearce and David Pennefather, then busy searching for another wreck.

History

The four-engined B-17F, piloted by First Lieutenant De Loach, took off on the night between 10 and 11 July 1943 from Jackson airport with three other planes for a raid on the Rabaul airport of Vunakanua. The plane, nicknamed Black Jack because its serial number ended with 21, experienced problems immediately after take off but the crew decided to continue their mission which, after a few mishaps, was completed. On the way back, however, the engine problems worsened, as too the weather conditions, causing additional difficulties to the aeroplane and the crew. When the B17F managed to emerge from the bad weather it was short of fuel; the crewmembers were not sure of their exact position and decided to attempt an emergency landing in front of Boga Boga. The crew abandoned the plane for a rescue dinghy and the inhabitants of the village rushed to their aid in their traditional canoes.

Dive

The site of the dive is exposed to strong south-easterly and north-westerly winds and is often swept by a current coming from south-east. The dive can be made only in the presence of good weather conditions. The Melanesian Discoverer is usually anchored close to the wreck on the sandy seabed; on windy days it is preferable to sink anchor on the reef which descends to 25 metres.

A line runs from the coral wall in front of the village from 5 to 20 metres towards the wreck. If you proceed in that direction for 10 metres or so you will be able to make out the large outline of the
B-l7. The first part that comes into view is the tail, with its enormous tailplane covered with alcyonarians expanding polyps towards the current. Below the rudder, almost resting on the sand, are the tail machine-guns, that still traverse, who knows whether for their excellent manufacture or because all the divers that come here turn them both ways.

Swimming along the fuselage towards the cockpit you will pass in front of a door; a machine-gun was once positioned here but was probably thrown out of the plane before the emergency landing. It is best not to go inside the fuselage, as there is a lot of metal and suspended cables. Nearly above the cockpit is the turret with two machine guns. Through an open window you can still see what remains of the cockpit controls.

The stern, also equipped with a machine-gun, is somewhat dented, probably as a result of the impact with the water. From here you can see the wings, each with two large three-bladed engines. At this point it is best to start back, given the depth and amount of time spent underwater. The dive can also be made following the reverse route, but in this case it is advisable to anchor the ship in front of the bomber’s nose and the descent must be marked with a line. Dive then right onto the nose of the plane and follow the fuselage towards the tail so that, at the end of your exploration, you are close to the wall of the reef, ready to rise.

This is a dive in deep water, often in the current and calls for decompression stops. It is therefore only recommended for expert divers.